Taliban Militia Captures Afghan Province's Capital

OTHER NEWS TO NOTE - World

August 3, 1999

KABUL, Afghanistan - After fierce fighting, the hard-line Taliban militia captured the capital of Afghanistan's northern Parwan province Monday, prompting thousands of people to flee their homes, witnesses said. Charikar, Parwan's provincial capital, was almost deserted when Taliban fighters entered the city after defeating northern-based opposition soldiers, Taliban sources and witnesses said. The strategic city was the opposition's only remaining stronghold north of the capital Kabul. With the capture of Charikar, the entire Parwan province is now controlled by the Taliban.